Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Ryanair Cabin Crews Strip for Charity

The Telegraph: Ryanair’s cabin crews have stripped off for the airline’s fifth annual charity calendar.

Proceeds from “The Girls of Ryanair” calendar, which features scantily-clad female flight attendants, will go to DEBRA, which provides support for patients suffering from epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a genetic skin condition.

The charity was chosen from nearly 400 applicants, and Ryanair said it hopes to raise around £85,000 ($135,000).

The calendar costs £8.50 $13.50) and can be purchased on board Ryanair flights, from DEBRA’s charity shops in Spain and Ireland, or on the airline’s website www.ryanair.com.

Stephen McNamara, a spokesman for Ryanair, said that the money raised would be used to take 50 children with EB, and their families, on a holiday to Malaga, where they are provided with support by members of the DEBRA team.

Jimmy Fearon, DEBRA’s chief executive, said: “Ryanair’s donation will help us to deliver a once in a lifetime opportunity for 50 families to enjoy a holiday, with professional care and assistance on hand to allow parents and children time to rest and enjoy their precious time together.”

Last year’s calendar saw money donated to the German charity Tafel. In 2009, cash was raised by the British charity, KIDS. The publication of the 2009 calendar led to Labour MEP Mary Honeyball accusing Ryanair of "sexualizing" the airline industry, and called the stunt "a desperate bid for profits".

Michael O'Leary, the airline's chief executive, responded by describing Ms Honeyball as "anti-fun", before sending her his own copy of the calendar.